City of Shadow- largest arena to date

[CaptainSarathai]

Alright, I've been talking about it for a while now, and it's time to begin! This is an Off Seasonal arena and it's time to get some new blood into the AoDs. I've staked the claim: this will be the largest arena to date on this site, and so I'm looking for entrants.
Entries are open to veterans and newbies alike no matter how many arenas you've participated in, so come one and come all!

The idea of this particular arena is to get the fights out of the arena and into the world at large. No more will you be confined by arena walls, and no longer is this simply a test of champions for some noble's entertainment. This is a battle for a bid to power over the dessicated streets of a once-great city. Just like my writing in other places, fights will be violent and brutal- there is no quarter when the stakes are this high. If you can send me the entrants, I'll offer them glory and riches, but I will also promise them blood.

How to enter:

You are allowed to use any Lord or Hero character from any of the current army books. Storm of Chaos and the like are out. Below you will find a list of rules on how things work; however, there are a few limits on your characters.

• Each character must be named.
• They must be legal and cost no more than 260 points in total.
• They cannot ride monstrous mounts (mounts with more than one wound).
• No special characters.
• All Hero choices may select 100 points of magic items, rather than the usual 50.
• In addition, each one must be accompanied by a background and a description of them for the write ups. (Background should stick to canon as reasonably as possible)


• To enter, you may post characters in this thread, or send a PM to CaptainSarathai:

• Name of character
• Background
• Equipment
• Total cost

Rules

Equalizers

• Goblin Warbosses (Night Goblins included) may go up to 20 points over their magic item limit providing that they do not exceed 260 pts in total.
• Skink Chieftans may go up to 20 points over their magic item limit providing that they do not exceed 260 pts in total.
• Skaven Warlords may go up to 20 points over their magic item limit providing that they do not exceed 260 pts in total. The Appendix Plague Lord is no longer permitted.
• Vampire Lords get 35pts extra – they may not exceed their magic item limit.
• Tomb Kings get 25 points extra, they may not exceed their magic item limit.
• Empire characters that do not take a Runefang may go up to 20pts over the magic item limit providing that they do not exceed 260 points in total.
• Wood Elf characters get 20 points extra; they may not exceed their magic item limit.
• Dark Elf Assassins are counted as Hero choices for all intents and purposes.
• Bretonnians must pray to gain the Blessing, allowing their opponent to charge them and gain all the benefits thereof in the first round of each combat. A Bretonnian player who does not wish to pray should specify this before the match is rolled.


[QUOTE]Additional Rules

Warpstone amulet - Same points cost, but roll to see if you die BEFORE the fight instead of afterwards.

Killing Blow - If a character scores a KB hit then this is how damaged will be worked out: D2+n
(n stands for the number of original wounds the character had minus two. This gives a 50% chance of killing a character off.)

Blade of Realities - Instant death attacks from the Blade of Realities will also be worked out by D2+n

Dwarfs – Any dwarf lord entered may be mounted upon shieldbearers, all rules and restrictions apply as per usual.

Gaze of the gods table: chaos characters will receive a single roll at the start of the tournament to represent the champion having the favour of his gods to take part. However unlike in a normal game further rolls will not be made after any victorious matches. However, should the player wish to change his result on the gaze of the gods table at any point of the arena he has a single re-roll which he can make before a match is fought to represent the fickle nature of chaos. Note that the player will be stuck with the second result regardless of the outcome. (Example: Rainbow the chaos champion rolls +1 attack at the start of the arena, but later decides he wants something else in round 2. Unfortunately he rolls stupidity and is stuck with it for the remainder of the arena in place of his +1 attack)

Bound Spells – Besides bound spells, magic is banned from the arena. Each character may cast up to ONE bound spell per turn (that includes Arch Lectors). Enemy characters have one dice to dispel, plus one for each MR they are. Dwarfs may dispel with two. If a bound spell is deemed too powerful, it will be noted on a case by case situation.

BANNED ITEMS

The following items are banned, they are found to be too powerful or have an unfair advantage in an Arena of Death game.

- Tress of Isolde
- Sword of Fate
- Van Horstmann's Speculum
- The Daemon Sword
- The Fellblade
- The Bane Head
- The Grudge Rune
- Kurbog's Curmudgeonly Klobbera
- Virtue of Confidence
- Annoyance of Netlings
- Palanquin mount
- Pendant of Kaeleth
- Any and all items/weapons/armour that nullifies or breaks magic weapons.


Also, any item that includes in its rules "nominate one enemy character" is illegal.

How it works

If you have never fought in one of these, the point is to pit two characters against one another, one on one. In all essence it is a challenge as in a normal game but with a few differences. Namely, they’re trapped in an arena with the only way out is to kill or be killed.

We will roll a match up between two characters until one perishes. The one who remains standing will be the victor and progress to the next round.

Combat

-Shooting: characters who armed with missile weapons will fire shots at one another before charging. If only one character is armed with a missile weapon, it is assumed that they have chosen a "stand-and-shoot" reaction, with the -1 penalty as usual. If for some reason the combatants become separated during the fight (teleportation items, etc) then it is assumed that they return to charge range, fire again, and then charge as usual.

- Always Strike First

- First round of combat
In the first round of combat, both warriors count as charging for the purposes of lances and other special rules. If neither warrior has a 'strike first' ability (or a 'strike last' ability), the person with the highest Initiative will strike first. If both warriors are equally entitled to strike first (usually because they have equal initiative), striking order will be determined randomly. In essence, we will follow the rules as outlined by GW for ASF, great weapons, and the like.

- Later rounds
In later rounds of combat, neither warrior gets charging bonuses (pretty obvious ). Strike order will be determined using the same system as in the first round of combat - however, in cases of equal initiative, the die to determine strike order is not rolled. Instead, the person who struck first last time will strike first, combat alternating between each warrior.

- After the Fight
After the fight, the victor advances to the next round. Any wounds they suffer are healed, as well as any other effects (such as the manbane poison: or anything else that permanently reduces statistics). It is as if the last fight never happened!

Psychology

- Break tests
Break tests are ignored in the Arena (where are they going to run in a ring of death?). Other psychology that may force an opponent to flee from combat is also ignored. THERE IS NO WAY TO FLEE IN AN AOD. For this reason, panic, unbreakable and Stubborn also have no effect.

In addition, undead warriors ignore the rule that causes them to take wounds from combat resolution. In a similar manner, daemonic characters do not suffer from instability.

- Fear
Fear is handled similarly to normal. In the first round of combat, a warrior facing a fearsome foe will take a Ld test. If he fails, he will hit on 6+ for that round of combat. After that, fear has no effect.

- Hatred
Hatred is also handled as normal. The warrior will re-roll failed 'to hit' rolls against hated foes in the first round, unless a specific army book overrules this.

- Stupidity
Since stupidity is ignored in combat, it only effects the first turn when the model suffering stupidity is attempting to charge. He or she will take a stupidity test as normal; if failed, the model strikes last, no matter what. I.e., no ASF for failed test.

- Frenzy
While there's nowhere to run, you can still have the frenzy knocked out of you; therefore, models do lose frenzy as normal.

Entrants

Bretonia
Tekore- Colthar Hartborn
Ezekk- Tancred Heilige

Chaos
Grimmtu- Ughorl Swamplord
no1cafc- U'Skar

DarkElves
Attila the Hun Jr- Tak Stinsavar
Avatar of Khaine- Therein and Thesselina
Jmeis982- Temrith Blackhand

Dwarves
Jack Shrapnel- Dwarf Lord Algrim Granitefist
Sigelus- Lord Dunrak

Empire
Mpdscott- Sir Gerrard Greven
RobtheGuru- Sanchez Valhelm


High Elves
Glavas- Sarith Draconis
Allonaire- Galahdrien
Jasp- Sebastian


Lizardmen
Dhoom- Myk'Dit'Ka
Andre- Lhiox

Ogre Kingdoms
ArchonFarseerGuy- Plahrto the Excommunicated Radical
Mikel2495- Gharfton


Orcs and Goblins
Tuxedo Clank- Bogrod
Lewbot1- Mazdag
DeadstarMRC- Lorgoz

Skaven
Archnomad- Warlord Deathclaw
Daelrog- Ridlock
Tookie- Warlord Pawskuit


Tomb Kings
Nagash- Tomb King Akhemnut
Disciple of Anubis- Tomb Queen Femriam
Prince Tutumra- King Anusakhis

Vampire Counts
Throkken- Lucifer Von Hastervaln
El Loco- El Loco

Warriors of Chaos
NekhraRises- Ragnarokkus Skullthief
Undivided- Haargorth
Cakeman

[avatar of khaine]

bagsie a place! (Dwarves)

With your permission, i'd rather post my character than pm.

[Attila the Hun Jr]

If Avatar hasn't yet entered, the race is on for me to enter the first character into the largest AoD ever!

Let's think...dark elves.

I assume that we are alowed to post our characters, seeing as you said we can in your post. So: an unrthodox set of magic items is in order, I think. Let's see:

Realises moments of insanity yesterday when I was very tired and makes clever use of 'edit' button

Dark Elf Dreadlord
-Black Amulet, Armour of Darknes, Great Weapon, and a Pair of Repeater Handbows (fluff only)

So, that's 4 WS7 I8 S6 attacks with eternal hatred and always strikes last
1+ AS and a 4+ ward, which, if passed, inflicts a wound with no armour save on the opponent.

Let's fluff:

Captain Tak Stinsavar

"You tried to run."
It wasn't a question, rhetorical or otherwise. It was fact.
"You tried to run." Makrevar repeated the simple sentence as if it was the first time he had said any of those words. He chuckled. "You tried to run."
"I tried to run."
Staring at him with defiant green eyes, Tak was unrepentant, even happy.
Makrevar smiled. "Admittance? Oh, my dear girl. Either I've underestimated your stupidity, or I've overestimated your intelligence."
"But...you said...you knew."
"I say a lot of things."
"Bastard!"
She spat. Makrevar wiped it off, smiled, and smashed Tak round the face with the blunt side of his axe.
"No one escapes the Nippponese, elf. Ecspecially spies. I could kill you right here. I have the authority."
"But you're not going to."
"Indeed." Makrevar smiled.
"May I ask as to why?"
Makrevar shrugged. "You have heard of Arenas?"
"They are but rumour."
"No."
"How would you know?"
"I have fought. As you will. And I have won. I doubt you shall do the same. You will have your euipment returned to you. And you will fight. Most probably, you will die. It makes no difference to me." Makrevar moved towards the door.
"No difference?"
Makrevar turned. "They'll pay me the same anyway," he smiled. He pinched the candle and extinguished the flame.

[daelrog]

Originally Posted by Attila the Hun Jr

If Avatar hasn't yet entered, the race is on for me to enter the first character into the largest AoD ever!

Let's think...dark elves.

I assume that we are alowed to post our characters, seeing as you said we can in your post. So: an unrthodox set of magic items is in order, I think. Let's see:

Dark Elf Dreadlord
-Executioners' Axe
-Cold One
-Heavy Armour
-Talisman of Protection
-Sea Dragon Cloak

So, that's 4 WS7 I8 attacks with eternal hatred, and a strength double that of the enemy.
Now for the downside: a 2+ AS (1+ versus any shooting) and a 6+ ward isn'tgoing to do a toughness 3 elf much good.

Fluff and a name to come, it's late and I have school tomorrow.

*Swooshes in*

Though I don't have the book o me, I believe the axe can only be used on foot, and also strikes last.

*Swooshes away*

[Deadstar_MRC]

Hmm... I may sit this one out for the moment. I really should look into picking up some more army books so I don't have to stick to entering a Vampire every time.

But I'll definitely be following this one! Will be good to see what you come up with, Captain!

P.S. Just a small aside, Captain - you've set the points limit at 260, but not changed it in the Equalisers section. I know it's a small thing but I just thought someone new to this might be a tad confused...

[CaptainSarathai]

I'm sorry to see that you'll be sitting this one out Deadstar. If you change your mind, you're always more than welcome to enter a character. I may be able to help with your army-book issues as well.

Avatar- of course you can post your character here. I was making it an option so that players who would rather keep their builds secret can just use a PM. I love to see that banter between players whenever someone posts up a cool build.

Everyone else:
Preliminary fluff will be coming up soon, and I'm still looking for entrants. If this thing's going be big, I'm going to need you guys (and gals) to help me!

[Attila the Hun Jr]

Yes, it is always strikes last. I sort of deliberately forgot to mention that. But I can have a horsie-or a lizardie-if I want.

[avatar of khaine]

Thesselina was sitting at a crystal table, on which sat a chess set. She was dressed in her usual fighting gear, and there didn't seem to be any parts of her missing. Which was odd, because she definitely remembered being blown up.

"I'm dead." She said, her voice hollow. "And so is my brother."

She looked up at the figure opposite her. It wore a simple robe, but a dazzling doorway behind it cast it into shadow.

"Not quite. You are in a waiting room. Behind I, is the door to life. Behind you, the afterlife. To reach life, you must defeat me." It gestured at the board with gleaming thin white fingers.

Around them, the scenery changed constantly. They were in the middle of the Strauss estate. The Siren's heart, her destroyed ship. Libris arena. Finally it settled on a castle of glass, in a shifting landscape that hurt her eyes. Behind the person stood a line of ghostly people, staring at her. Behind her, a slightly larger line of ghostly people, staring at death.

"Those you have saved from me." The thing pointed forwards. "Those you have sent to me." It pointed behind it.

Thesselina sat, thinking. Finally, in one fluid movement, she drew her pistol and fired. Death's skull exploded into fragments and it collapsed backwards.

Laughter exploded within her skull, in every tone imaginable. "Oh, I was right. You are far too interesting to die, Lieteller. The game would not be the same without you. You have one more lifetime.

Yeah, i'm entering these guys again. I'll make more introductory posts before i actually post the character, though. (They're far too much fun to not re-use them.)

[lewbot1]

what happened to not reviving characters until AFTER daels arena as was specified in the rules on page one? I'll let ya off but im not sure if dael will

[avatar of khaine]

Originally Posted by lewbot1

what happened to not reviving characters until AFTER daels arena as was specified in the rules on page one? I'll let ya off but im not sure if dael will

I already asked his premission